Olympus dishes silver PEN E-P2 Micro Four Thirds camera

Look, we’re not saying Olympus’ original all-black PEN E-P2 had no retro whatsoever in its blood, but you’ll be hard-pressed to convince us that this newer, silver-er model doesn’t have a whole lot more. Nearly six months after the (admittedly overpriced) Micro Four Thirds camera got pushed through the ringer, Olympus has decided that the world needs a second color option, though outside of the hue, there’s no difference whatsoever between the two models. It’ll ship later this month in Europe for a still-lofty €799 ($1,016), but at least that scores you a M. Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 lens! Ah, who are we kidding — that removes precisely zero pain from the sticker shock.

Olympus dishes silver PEN E-P2 Micro Four Thirds camera originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 May 2010 05:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fujifilm’s FinePix F80EXR reviewed: mo’ megapixels mo’ problems

Fujifilm's FinePix F80EXR reviewed: mo' megapixels mo' problems

You all know the deal: the quest for higher numbers to put on stickers on the front of cameras hasn’t necessarily resulted in a similarly exponential increase in image quality. If you needed more proof, check out Photography Blog’s review of the Fujifilm FinePix F80EXR, an upgrade to last-year’s compact 10x superzoom F70EXR. This year’s revision get’s a 20 percent boost in the all-important megapixel count, up to 12, but the sensor “delivers slightly worse image quality than its predecessor.” That’s not a good start, but the rest is better, with the camera’s dynamic range shooting mode earning high marks, and the body’s overall design and compactness scoring well too. It sounds like decent value for $299.99, but you’ll want to read that full review before plunking down your digits.

Continue reading Fujifilm’s FinePix F80EXR reviewed: mo’ megapixels mo’ problems

Fujifilm’s FinePix F80EXR reviewed: mo’ megapixels mo’ problems originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung announces pasty white Limited Edition NX10

Samsung announces pasty white Limited Edition NX10

Some cameras just beg to be taken out in the sun, and such is the new Limited Edition NX10 from Samsung, a Silas-inspired model that looks quite good in white and is perfect for documenting your self-flagellation techniques. This special edition will come as a kit with a slinky 30mm pancake lens and a leather case. (Yes, folks, leather. No flimsy vinyl enclosure for this bad boy.) Samsung isn’t saying how much the Limited Edition will set you back, but has indicated it’ll launch on May 7 in Korea, the Netherlands, China, Taiwan, and the good ‘ol US of A — making us think it perhaps isn’t so terribly limited after all.

Samsung announces pasty white Limited Edition NX10 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ben-Q debuts E1260 HDR digicam with 12-megapixels, 720p video

Ben-Q might not be the most well-known name in the gadget game, but it does have a pretty solid track record when it comes to entry-level consumer electronics. The company’s newest shooter might not come in the most eye-pleasing package, but the 12-megapixel E1260 HDR should do well enough in capturing those spontaneously heartwarming (or cloying) scenes with the family this summer: 720p video! 28mm 4x optical wide angle zoom lens! A ‘passable’ 2.7-inch LCD display! And how about that HDR image enhancement technology? Apparently, this bad boy’s “high dynamic range” feature manages high contrast lighting to eliminate excessive backlight. Intrigued? This one should hit store shelves sometime next month. PR after the break.

Continue reading Ben-Q debuts E1260 HDR digicam with 12-megapixels, 720p video

Ben-Q debuts E1260 HDR digicam with 12-megapixels, 720p video originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon brings out Jackie Chan-branded Rebel T2i / 550D for Chinese market

“Eye of Dragon” must be Chinese for “better kit lens, fancier neck strap, a branded photo album, and a leather case.” Because that’s the totality of substantive changes you’ll be getting if you opt for the upgraded Jackie Chan variety of Canon’s Rebel T2i. Of course, there’s also the knowledge that you’ll be one of only 2,010 owners of this exclusive kit, which will set buyers back an unenviable 10,000 Yuan ($1,467). If you ask us, we’d rather just buy the body and add on the EF-S 18-135mm lens ourselves, but then we were always more partial to Bruce Lee anyway.

Canon brings out Jackie Chan-branded Rebel T2i / 550D for Chinese market originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 05:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony gives NEX3 and NEX5 names to its first ultra-compact interchangeable lens cameras

Those ultra-mysterious folks at Sony are finally starting to loosen their grip on info about the Japanese giant’s entry into the growing market for compact interchangeable lens cameras. Having already witnessed some of the user interface and a few prototype bodies, we’re now seeing the first shots of these new shooters in the wild. Spotted in an Asian pub (what is it with drinking establishments and hardware leaks?), the mirrorless NEX3 body reveals its name, an external flash attachment (with a proprietary connector, boo!), and a a chrome-finished 16mm F2.8 pancake lens. It doesn’t look very pancakey to us, and indeed Sony Alpha Rumors claim it’s bigger than the nearest competitors from Olympus and Panasonic, but apparently that’s because Sony has included optical image stabilization in the lens, perhaps a worthy trade-off. Both new models are expected to sport the 14 megapixel ExmorHD sensor, though the NEX5 will record 1080p video versus the NEX3’s 720p. We’re told to expect a May 11 announcement for the pair, with what’s being described as “very aggressive” pricing relative to their Micro Four Thirds competition. Let it be so.

Sony gives NEX3 and NEX5 names to its first ultra-compact interchangeable lens cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 04:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nikon Coolpix P100 reviewed, found to contain oodles of zoom and superb movie mode

If there is such a thing as a no-compromise point and shooter, the Coolpix P100 might just be it. It throws a back-illuminated 10 megapixel CMOS sensor in behind a 26x optical zoom lens, and supplements them with the hardware to record 1080p video at 30fps, with stereo mics pulling in sound, or full-resolution photos at a stunning 10fps clip. Throw in the articulating display on the back and you might already be asking where to buy one. Not so fast, though, as the Photography Blog guys have some notes for you. Firstly, the 10fps mode fills up the camera’s buffer after only 6 shots, and the usable burst mode is actually a (still decent) 2.8fps. There’s also the criticism that low-contrast detail is often lost thanks to overzealous noise reduction, but on the whole their experience of the camera was still positive. Macro performance was rated as “outstanding,” while Nikon’s Vibration Reduction was credited with performing its job admirably, and the conclusion was that casual photographers would get a lot of mileage (and fun) out of the P100. Read on for the full analysis.

Nikon Coolpix P100 reviewed, found to contain oodles of zoom and superb movie mode originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 10:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leica V-Lux 20 compact with 12x superzoom is pure brand extortion

It’s out — the V-LUX 20 — what was rumor is now official courtesy of a Leica press release. The 12.1 megapixel superzoom with 25-300mm Leica DC-VARIO-ELMAR 4.1-49.2mm f/3.3-4.9 ASPH lens and integrated GPS is slated to ship to the UK in May for a suggested retail price of £495 (about $757, likely a bit less when priced Stateside). The matte-black finished compact sports a 1/2.33-inch CCD sensor, 720p/60fps Motion JPEG video recording, a 460,000 pixel 3-inch LCD, 11-point AF, SD/SDHC/SDXC storage, and plenty of options to drop into manual mode when you want a bit more control of the action. Nice huh? Just remember that the V-Lux 20 is a near exact replica (same lens, sensor, LCD, and GPS) of the DMC-ZS7 which lists for just $399, is smaller, and shoots HD video in the more sophisticated AVCHD Lite format. Yeah, we know.

Leica V-Lux 20 compact with 12x superzoom is pure brand extortion originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 07:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leica V-Lux 20 gets leaked with (nearly) reasonable price tag

An M9 it ain’t, but Leica‘s latest still might tickle the fancy of those who see value in paying for that cute red logo. If the image above and details linked down there in the source are to be believed, the V-Lux 20 will be launching in five short days, bringing with it a 3-inch rear LCD, 25mm to 300mm zoom range, integrated GPS and price of nearly €549 ($744). The tough news is that this thing is based around Panasonic’s ZS-7, which can be had right now for under $400, so it’s hard to say how much value you’ll get in paying more for Leica’s variant. If all goes well, it’s rumored to be in stores by May 9th, sitting right alongside the ultra affordable leather case (€99) and extra battery (€69).

Update: Now even Leica is saying some “fresh” camera news is on the way. Boom.

Leica V-Lux 20 gets leaked with (nearly) reasonable price tag originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olympus serves up autofocus update for PEN E-P1, E-P2 and E-PL1 cameras

Got yourself a new PEN? If you’re nodding your head furiously up and down, you owe it to yourself to take ten minutes late next week and install a minty fresh update. Olympus has today let loose a new firmware build that improves auto focus performance for still images and high-definition video recording for the PEN E-P1, E-P2 and E-PL1 cameras. Better still, it enables the menu and recorded image to be displayed on the E-P2 and E-PL1 LCD while the VF-2 electronic viewfinder is in use. Unfortunately, the bits and bytes you’re after won’t be available to download until next Thursday (the 22nd), but till then, you can keep on using your Micro Four Thirds shooter while imagining how much better your images will be in just a few short days.

Continue reading Olympus serves up autofocus update for PEN E-P1, E-P2 and E-PL1 cameras

Olympus serves up autofocus update for PEN E-P1, E-P2 and E-PL1 cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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